This is Wyatt (Eric Goodell) did it the hard way Saturday night, winning Yonkers Raceway's featured $28,000 Winner Over Pace
.
Leaving from post position No. 6, he went up and over Go Go Solano (Dan Dube) after that one put up fractions of :26.2, :55 and 1:23.4.
This Is Wyatt found the lead early in the lane, found the mile marker in 1:51.4, then finished off the mile-and-one-sixteenth in 1:59.1, a new local record for his weight class. Go Go Solano held second--beaten a length--with 11-10 fave Erics Legend N (Larry Stalbaum) third in his North American purse debut. Southwind Tabor (Jim Pantaleano) and Shoobees Place (Stephane Bouchard) completed the cashers.
For This Is Wyatt, a four-year-old Astreos gelding co-owned by (trainer) Josh Green, David Rovine and VIP Internet Stable, he returned $9.50 (third choice) for his fourth win in six seasonal starts. The exacta paid $39.60, with the triple returning $109 (superfecta was cancelled due to a scratch).
Saturday's card also featured seven, $12,500 divisions in the opening round of the (flat-mile) Sagamore Hill Pacing Series for three and four-year-old colts and geldings.
The winners were:
- Kid Cruiser, g, 4 (by Yankee Cruiser); owner Laura Baker/trainer Tony Alagna/driver Pantaleano; 1:55.4/$5.90;
- Hasta Luego, g, 4 (by Real Desire); owner Randy Bendis/trainer Darren Cassar/driver Brent Holland; 1:57.3/$18 (note that $9,429 of the $10,461 in the show pool was wagered on 1-9 favourite Forego the Cigar, who broke on the lead nearing the three-quarters);
- Urgent Action, 4 (by Artsplace); owner Marvin Rounick/trainer Jerry Silverman/driver Jason Bartlett; 1:53.3/$3.30
- Tuff Enuff Hanover, g, 4 (by Western Hanover); co-owners Barbara and William Ethier/trainer Scott Blackler/driver Bartlett; 1;55.4/$3.30;
- DVC Gifted Indeed, g, 4 (by Place To Be); owner Dino Lo Castro/trainer Lou Pena/driver George Brennan; 1:55.4/$3.60;
- Andy Baran, g, 4 (by Rambarran); co-owners Burke Racing, Weaver Bruscemi/trainer Ron Burke/driver Bartlett; 1:55.4/$3.30;
- Electrofire, 4 (by Electric Stena); owner Michael Casalino Jr./trainer Chris Marino/driver Bartlett; 1:55/$4.80.
Also Saturday night, Ryan Anderson was unseated and injured when the driving bit broke with Cheyenne Oxe in the first Sagamore Hill division. Cheyenne Oxe, who was leading at the time of the incident (past the half-mile going into the third turn), wound up inside the pylons and was eventually caught without incident. Anderson was transported to a local hospital and updates will be provided when available.
(Yonkers Raceway)